Directional-beam lighting unit



Jan. 2, 1951 J. H. cANNoN 2,536,533

DIRECTIONAL-BEAM LIGHTING UNIT Filed May 15, 1946 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 DIRECTIONAL-BEAM LIGHTING UNIT James H. Cannon, Pasadena, Calif.; Citizens National Trust & Savings Bank of Los Angeles and Robert J. Cannonexecutors of said James H. Cannon, deceased Application May iaiaiapserial No. 669,257

My invention relates generally to 'illuminating devices and particularly to a lighting unit especially adapted for use in illuminating steps, paths or circular areas.

vS'One object of the invention is to provide a lighting lunit capable of transmitting a circular beam of light for flood-'lighting an area surrounding the unit orior directing one or more beams of light concentrated in selected directions to illuminate various objects or areas.

Another Objectis to provide a lighting unit of the character referred to"'having 'a hollow body for enclosing "a'so'urce of light such as an"e1ectriclamp', and a lens member forming part of the body Vand provided with'inclined surfaces adapted lto deect rays oflight emanating from the lamp and to transmit one or more beams of the deflected rays from the unit.

Another object is to provide a lighting unit of the type indicated having means for rela tively adjusting the source of light and the lens member to vary the vangle of deflection of the light rays whereby-t change the direction of the beam or beams of light transmitted from the unit.

"Another object is to provide a lighting unit of the `type specified employing a reflector member which surrounds the lamp and which is provided with one 'or more `openings for directing beams of light in one 'or more selected directions, to adapt same to inclined walks, step risers, or varying widths or contoursoi walks or driveways.

"Another object is to provide a lighting unit oi the 'class referred-to which is of especially pleasing Aappearance 4and one which is composed of afminimum number'of parts adapted for economical manufacture and convenient assembly.

Further objects of my invention will vappear from the following specification and `the drawing, "which is intended 'for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

Fig. 1` is a longitudinal mid-sectional view of a lighting unit constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the `unit taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is'a cross-sectional view taken on line 3 -3v of ljliig. jl

rigs. '4, 5,Land c are Smau-scale side eleva-V tional views of the upper portion of the lighting unit showing the source of Vlight and the lens member `relatively "adjusted to Vcause beams Aof lighttobe directedat various angles;

`Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view through portion of the unit, showing a reiiector or baie 13 Claims. (Cl. 24D-11.2)

'lighting unit and providing openings for upwardv I and downward projection of light; and

Fig. 9 is a 4perspective view of still another form of reflector or baille particularly suited to the Villumination of three adjacent areas of dif- 'ferent elevation, e. g., a landing and steps descending vand ascending therefrom. Y" My "improved lighting unit comprises, in' general, a hollow casing or body including 'a tubular support member, a base member adjustvably mounted on the support member, a covermember or dome `supported from the base member in spaced relation thereto, and a tubular lens member interposed between the base mem e ber and cover member, said lens memberbeing provided with inclinedperipheral light-defiecting surfaces, a source of light disposed within the body, said light-deflecting surfaces being adapted y to deflect rays of light emanating from the source of light and to transmit a beamof the i rays from the body, and adjusting means for effecting -relative axial `adjustment "between them, support `member andthe body to vary the angle of deflection of `said rays of light whereby to4 change the direction of the transmitted beam.

Referring to vthedrawingin detail, my improved lighting unit comprises a tubular support meml ber or Vpost Ill'provided with a peripheral flange I l at its upper end and spaced screwthreaded bosses l2 projecting upwardly from the iiange.A

The `support member l'has a `longitudinally indicated :generally at`2ll. Fastened tothe upper ends o fithe bosses l2 by means of screws 2l is the -base 220i Va lampsocket `rnember- 23 andv interposed between the base and the bosses Vis an insulating plate 24. The socket member 23 may be threaded to receive the screw-threaded base-of a suitableelectric lamp and the present drawing'illustrates the socket member asprovided with a bayonet slot 25 adapted to receive a pin 25 on the periphery of the base of an electric bulb or lamp 21. The plate Ztl has a central boss Z9 in which spring-actuated contact elements v3i) 'are slidable, the contact elements being adapted to engage the contacts' 3l of the lamp 21 in theusual manner. The lower ends of the contact elements are connected to electrical wires 33 and 34 enclosed within the conduit l1.

Slidably mounted on the support member ill is a body or casing 3E. The body 3B includes a base member 31 having a concavo-convex portion 38 and an axial hub portion 35 which has an axial bore 40 to adapt the vbase member to be mounted on the post or support member lil. A set-screw 42 screwed througlra tapped hole in the side of the hub portion 39 has a reduced inner end 43 which is engageable in the groove l of the support member I!! to retain the base member 31 in adjusted position and to key the base member and support member together to prevent relative rotation therebetween. The upper concavo-convex portion 38 of the base mem'- ber 31 surrounds the upper end of the support member ID and its Vrim 45 isl provided on its interior with an annular groove 43. The base member 31 also has a pair of threaded bosses or pads 41. Y

VSupported by the rim d5 of the base member 31 is a tubular lens member 5U, the lower nd of which is provided with an annular projection 5I adapted to seat in theY groove 46 of the base member to provide a tight joint. The lens member 50 may be made from glass or plastic material of a transparent or translucent nature and its periphery is provided with a plurality ofV circumferential grooves 53 having inclined lieht deilecting surfaces 55. The inclined surfaces 55 are adapted to deiiect the light rays emanating from the electric lamp 21 and to transmit a beam of the light rays radially from the light-- ing unit in a manner to be hereinafter explained. Y

" means of an inverted U-shaped holder 52 havingA laterally bent feet 53 which rest vupon the bosses 41 within the base member 31. v screws 64 passing through holes in the feet 53 are screwed into the threaded bosses 41 to secure the holder 62 to the base.: member 31. The holder 52 is preferably'channel-shaped in cross section (Fig. 2) to provide strength and rigid-A ity and its upper looped end is attened as shown at 66 and the metal extruded to form a boss 61.v

The boss 61 is provided with a tapped hole for receiving the threaded end of a headedA screw 68 which extends through a hole 69 at the center ofthe dome member. When the screw 68k is tightened, the dome member 58 is drawn downwardly toward the base member 31 to clamp the lens member 5D between these two members and when it is desired to insert a new lamp` 21 into the body 36 the screw maybe withdrawn to permit removal of the dome member 58 and the lens member 50. It will be noted that due to the interengaging portions of its parts 31, 55,

land 58, the body 35 is substantially waterproof,

Headed but should water enter the body it will descend into the base member 31 and drain out through the bore to prevent short-circuiting of the electrical wiring and prevent leakage into the supporting conduit I1.

The lighting unit is adapted for use in illuminating circular zones and when used for such a purpose the body 3E may be adjusted vertically on the support member i5 to any of the positions shown in Figs. l, 4, 5, and 6 to vary the vposition of the lamp 21 with respect to the lens member` 5D. "To adjust the relative position of the lamp 21 and lens member 55, the set-screw 42 is loosened and the body or casing 33 is moved upwardly or downwardly on the support member ID, after which the set-screw is re-tightened to retain the parts in adjusted position. .Relative axial movement between the lens member and the lamp 21 causes the rays of light emanating from the lamp to strike the inclined deiiecting surfaces at different angles so that the angle of deiiection of the rays is altered. For example,"-

when the lamp 21 is located in lower position relative to the lens member 50 as shown in Fig. G, the uppermost light rays diverge upwardly and the inclined surfaces 55 act to direct these rays radially outward at an angle slightly inclined with respect to the Vhorizontal and Ato deflect other rays downwardly. The projected beam isf capable of illuminating a relatively large area and will light objects arranged slightly above the height of theighting unit.

When the parts of the device are adjusted to4 the position shown in Fig. 1, the upper boundary of the projected beam is determined by the lip 55 of the dome member 58 so that the upper raysi;

of the beam will be directed substantially horizontally from the lighting unit and Vthis is def' sirable when it is unnecessary to illuminate objects or zones above the elevation of the unit.

To produce a beam of light which is concen-I trated in an area or zone closer to and at a lower level than the lighting unit the parts are adjust# ed to cause the lamp 21 to be partially disposed within the dome member 58 as shown in Fig. 5; In this position of adjustment the lip further disrupts the transmission of the uppermost light rays and the inclined surfacesV 55 act to deflect f the rays downwardly to produce a substantially conical beam capable of illuminating a smaller circular zone around the lighting unit.

When it is desired to illuminate a relatively small zone adjacent the lighting unit, the parts are adjusted to position the lamp further within the confines of the dome member 58 as shownr in Fig. 4. It will be apparent by reference to Fig. 4 that the lip B9 further reduces the mag7 nitude of the projected beam by entirely elimihating the uppermost rays of light and since the remaining rays are deflected downwardly by theinclined surfaces 55, the conical beam is concentrated in an area of relatively small compass adjacent the unit. i.

It is thus seen that my improved lighting unit greater height to obtain continuity of illumined areas.

"It is 4-'sometimes desirable to illuminatel objects or relatively small zones to one side` of thelghting unitor .to illuminate selectively garden paths,

aisles, or steps; The inventionrufovidesumeans 'for accomplishing this `by .directing a concentrated beam or beams substantially radially .outward t'ospotlight such zones. This is accomplished by disposing within the cylindrical lens member'BIla reflector orV baille `with one or `more openings for .the desired concentrated beam or beams. Such areliector or baille maybe'atstrip of thin. material fitting immediately inside the lensxmember 5D. 'Ille coniigurationof' this mem-A ber `will ldepend upon the light patternV to be emitted, and I prefer to employ-a member `sufficiently thin to be easily .shaped by'a scissors or tfin snipstothe desired contourforthe particular installation. Alternatively, the reflector orbaiile may; be -pre-'cutto thedesired conguration and.

supplied in this form with the vlighting unit.` Several forms of Vsuch reflectors or baflleswill be hereinafter described. In la'l instances, such a member is partially or completely opaque. For example. it may be formed of colored transparent or translucent material, e. g., a colored plastic, orit'rnay be formed of thin metal orfother opaque material. In the latter instance, a light-refiective surface facing the light source is usually desirable, the preferred structure being a reflector-or baille made of thin chromiump`atedzinc.

In Fig. 7 is shown a reflector or baille, indicated by the numeral 10, designed to concentrate the light in a relatively ,small zone tol onerside `of the. lighting unit. Here, the reflector 10 isformed cfa strip of material with spaced ends providing an opening or window 1l throughwhlch the light rays emanating from the source oi light 21 may pass to the lensmember to be deflected thereby.' In this embodiment, the window 'H is of rectangular outline to transmit a rectangular beam. Thesource of light 21 and the lens member 50 may be relatively adjusted to deflect' the When it` emitted through the unobstructed portionof the The spacing; of the lighting units `may besuch as to providelens member, typically about 180.

overlapping of the'end `portions of the beams from adjacent units, tle overlapping tending to equalize the illumination along the zone.

When thelighting unit is to be used for'illuminati-ng steps or areas disposed at different levels, the reflector or baille may be shaped` as in Fig. 8 or Fig. 9. In Fig. 8, for example, the reflector` or baffle is indicated by the numeral l5 'and is formed from a strip of suitable material having its` ends notched as indicated` at T9 and 89 to provide upper and lower projecting tabs 8l and 8,2, respectively. Each of the tabs. is adapted to bej .positioned adjacent the respective notch of theopposite end of the strip when the strip is bent into circular form, as shown in Fig. 8. :..The

tabfs,n1ay overlap slightly to provide .separate openings or windows Bil and 95 at diierent 'elevations. In this event, upper `and lower light beams will be formed and these may be directed.

will? .de aotveraaaccnrra1.fuumaghibeam,

. areain which it is applied to use.

.Although I have 'shown the lighting unit as embodied in a preferred form of construction, by`

will be produced in additiony to the upper fand:

which event the light from the lower and upper zones 92 and 93 will respectively flood. steps descending and ascending from the landing. .Still`4 other arrangements of the reflector or baille will be apparenttto those skilled in the art. .Y

A feature of the. lighting unit of the invention is that .the degree of deflection ofthe beami isv adjustable without movement of the source: oi:-

light 2l, whereby such adjustment does :not flex and tend to break the wires 33, 34 energizing the` unit. `In'the present invention, the lamp-mount-- ing means I9 is stationary on tre end. of the vertical conduit Il carrying the wires, and adV` justment is effected by unitarily moving the'lens' member 50 at its associated casing 35, such ad justrnent causing no movement of the wires or any connecting terminals.v

It will `be.` observed from the foregoing `that my invention provides a particularly simple, vyet eilicient lighting unit adapted to illuminate various lobjects such as steps and paths, aisles, and circu- As a particular feature of improve-*- ment, the lighting unit is provided with a circular.

lar areas;

lens member having inclined peripheral lightdefiecting surfaces and has means for eiiecting relative adjustment between the source of light' and the lens member to change the angle of deflection of the rays of light whereby to control the direction of the beam of light transmitted from the unit; Moreover, the present invention provides means for controlling the magnitude of the light rays transmitted through the lensmerfr-V ber andfior eliminating upwardly directedrays. 'of light to avoid glaring. As a further feature of improvement, the invention provides means for concentrating the light rays in one or moreradial.`

beams extending at different levels whereby' to.

adapt the unit toilluminate objects, such as steps;

which are arranged at different heights. Furthermore, the improved lighting unit is especially ornamental in design and thus may be utilized'Vv without detracting from the appearance of way of example', it will be understood that it may bemodied in various particulars without depart-` ing from the spirit of the invention. ,Consee quently, I do not desire to be limitedby the fore-` going speciiicatio-n, but desire to be aiorded the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A lighting unit adapted to contain a source oi'llght, said unit comprising: a base member;'a

saidA base member and said cover member for clamping said lens member between said baseV and cover members, said base member, lens mem` be1:,and. cover member together constituting "a"4 hollow'casing'externally exposed to the atmosphere; lamp mounting means' including a tube for mounting said source of light within said casing, said source of light producing light rays reaching said lens member for deiiection; and relatively slidable adjusting means for eiecting relative axial adjustment between said source of light and said lens member to change the angle of deflection of said light rays, said adjusting means -including a hollow neck depending from saidV base member and oi a size to sidably re-` ceive said tube, clamping means for clamping said tube' and neck together and a stop means for limiting the relativemovement o said neck and tube.

A'2. A lighting unit adapted to contain a source of light, said unit comprising: a base member, a hollow dome member spaced from'said base member to provide a circular opening therebetween; a cylindrical lens member disposedlin said opening and provided with light-delecting surfaces all sloping in the same direction to direct a beam of light rays downwardly when emanating at a position within said cylindrical lens member,

Y said base member, lens member, and dome memis disposed at least partially within said hollow dome member to a second position wherein said source'of light is removed from said dome member and is disposed opposite said cylindrical lens member, said dome member providing a lower peripheral edge determining the position of the uppermost ray of the beam when said casing and lamp mounting means are in said irst position.

3. A lighting unit adapted to contain a source of light, said unitcomprising: a casing externally exposed to the atmosphere and provided with a peripheral opening; lamp mounting means for mounting said source of light within said casing substantially opposite said opening; a cylindrical lens member disposed in said opening to be exposed externally to the atmosphere, said cylin drical lens member providing light-deflecting surfaces all sloping in the same direction to deflect downwardly rays of light emanating from said source of light; and a curved light-impeding member extending,V at least partially around the interior of said lens member in contact with the interior thereof and providing ends having. edges extending toward each other in a direction peripherally of said lens to form an opening between such edges through which rays of light from said source are exclusively delivered to said lens member for deflection.

4. A lighting unit as dened in claim 3 including means for changing the relative position of said lamp mounting means and said cylindrical lens member to vary the angle of deflection of said light rays.

-5. A lighting unit as dened in claim 3 in which the ends of said light-impeding member provide edges spaced from each other to form a pair of openings spaced from each other peripherally of said cylindrical lens member.

' 6..A lighting unit as dened in claim 3 in which the ends of said light-impeding member provide edges spaced from each other to form-a pair of openings spaced from each other peripherally of said cylindrical lensmember, said openings being spaced from eachother axially of said cylindrical lens member.

'7. 'A directional lighting unit for mounting on the upper end of an upright electrical conduit and adapted to contain an electric light bulb energized from conductors extending upward in said electrical conduit, said lighting unit comprising: a tubular support member vertically movable on the upper end of said conduit; means for adjustably securing said tubular support memberto the upper end of said electrical con duit; a base member providing an opening slidably receiving said support member; guide means for guiding said base member in its sliding movement on its support member and comprising al slot in one of such members and an element on the other of such members sliding along saidslo't'f lamp mounting means for mounting said electric light bulb ixedly on said support member; 'a' tubular lens member extending upward from said' base member; a cover member above said tubular lens member; means extending between said base' member and said cover member internally' 'of said tubular lens member for clamping said tubu' lar lens member therebetween; and means'for clamping'said support member and said base' member together to hold same in an adjusted' axial position of said electric light bulb Withrespect to Asaid tubular lens member. 8. A lighting unit as defined in claim 7 in 'which' said base member is a concavo-convex member and in which said cover member is a concaveconvex dome member.

9. n directional lighting unit for mounting exposed to the atmosphere and on the upper end of an upright electrical conduit and adapted to contain'an electric light bulb energized from'co'nf electric light bulb iixedly on said support mem-v ber; a tubular lens member having light deecting surfaces and extending upward from said base member; a cover member above said tubular lens member; and means extending between said base member and said cover member inside saidv tubular lens member vfor clamping said lens member between said base member and said cover member, said base member, lens member and cover member together constituting a hollow casing exposed externally to the atmosphere and axially adjustable relative to said support member and its Yelectric light bulb by sliding of said' base member on said support member.

10- A directional lighting unit for mounting on the upper end of an upright electrical conduit and adapted to contain an electric light bulb energized from conductors extending upward in said electrical conduit, said lighting unit com-4 prising; a tubular support member surrounding' and adapted to be connected rigidly to the upper end'of said electrical conduit; a base member slidably adjustable on said support member, said base member including means for clamping said members together in adjustable relationship and said support member having a peripheral flange disposed within the base member and extending into the locus -o motion of saidbase member-to'Jy act as a stop preventing withdrawal of said base member from said support member; lamp mounting means connected to said support member for mounting said electric light bulb xedly on said support member; a tubular lens member extending upward from said base member; a cover member above said tubular lens member; and an inverted U-shaped holder member having its leg ends connected to said base member and its upper looped portion adjustably connected to said cover member to clamp said lens member between said cover member and said base member.

11. A directional lighting unit for mounting on the upper end of an upright electrical conduit and adapted to contain an electric light bulb energized from lconductors extending upward in said electrical conduit, said lighting unit comprising: a tubular support member surrounding and adapted to be connected rigidly to the upper end of said electrical conduit; a base member slidably adjustable on said support member; means for clamping said members together in adjustable axial relationship, said base member including a pair of spaced interior bosses; lamp mounting means connected to said support member for mounting said electric light bulb iixedly on said support member; a tubular lens member extending upward from said base member; a cover member above said tubular lens member; and an inverted U-shaped holder member having its leg ends connected to said base member bosses and its upper looped portion adjustably connected to said cover member to clamp said lens member between said cover member and said base member.

12. A directional lighting unit for mounting exposed to the atmosphere and on the upper end of an upright electrical conduit and adapted to contain an electric light bulb energized from conductors extending upward in said electrical conduit, said lighting unit comprising: a tubular support member and means for securing same to the upper end of said electrical conduit, said support member having a longitudinally extending groove in its periphery; a base member exposed externally to the atmosphere and providing an opening slidably receiving said support member, said base member having a tapped hole in its hub portion and a set screw therein engageable in said support member groove for slidably adjusting the axial positionl of said base member relative to said support member; lamp mounting means for mounting said melectric light bulb xedly on said support member; a tubular lens member having light deecting surfaces and extending upward from said base member, said lens member being externally exposed to the atmosphere and being axially adjustably positioned relative to said electric light bulb by the slidable adjustment of said base member; a cover member above said tubular lens member and exposed externally to the atmosphere; and means inside said tubular lens member for clamping said lens member between said cover member and said base member.

13. A lighting unit adapted to contain a source of light, said unit comprising: a casing provided with a peripheral opening; lamp mounting :means for mounting said source of light within said casing substantially opposite said opening; a cylindrical lens member disposed in said opening and provided with light-deecting surfaces, said lens member being adapted to deect rays of light emanating from said source of light; and a curved light impeding member extending at least partially around the'interior of said lens member in contact therewith, said light-impeding member having ends notched at diierent elevations to provide tabs overlapping each other and each extending only partially into an opposed notch to denne a plurality of separate openings between the ends of said tabs and the bottoms of the opposed notches through which rays of light from said source are delivered to said lens member for deilection.

JAMES H. CANNON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,415,685 ONeil May 9, 1922 1,459,440 Butte June 19, 1923 1,978,236 Tuck Oct. 23, 1934 2,352,459 Trautner June 27, 1944 2,375,311 Meyers May 8, 1945 2,433,982 Clarkson, Jr., et al. Jan. 61, 1948 

